Dungeon Odyssey [EN]: Chapter 15

Dungeon Journal – Episode 15 (15/319)

# 15

Dungeon Journal

Episode 16

“Hmm…”

Kim Jin-woo involuntarily groaned as he examined the item the black marketeer presented. Despite Dominic’s warning, he hesitated to reach out and take it.

The item the black marketeer offered was quite unexpected.

Wriggle, wriggle.

A small worm, contained in a transparent glass bottle, constantly wriggled.

“This is a Parasite. We Black Merchants don’t have many left. The price is one Superior Down Gem. What do you say?”

The price was exorbitant. A Superior Down Gem was a rare item worth over 400 million won [approximately $300,000 USD, a significant sum] on the market.

Yet, the black marketeer wanted one Superior Down Gem for this hideous worm.

Kim Jin-woo frowned and looked at Dominic. She nodded firmly in response to his questioning gaze.

He sighed and took out a Mid-Superior Down Gem from his pocket.

“Can I pay with this?”

“Oh! That’s quite a good one. About two of those should be enough.”

Having already decided, Kim Jin-woo took out another Down Gem and paid the price without hesitation.

“Thank you! You absolutely, absolutely won’t regret it.”

Thus, he purchased the Parasite.

***

“Is this really worth that much?”

‘You absolutely won’t regret it.’

Kim Jin-woo, holding the transparent glass bottle between his index and middle fingers, asked. Dominic answered firmly.

“I’m not sure yet.”

The black marketeer had already left the labyrinth. Kim Jin-woo had spent a long time choosing items, wondering how so many things could come from that small body and inventory.

If Dominic hadn’t intervened and picked out a few essential items for the labyrinth, he would have agonized over it much longer.

He had to hand over another Mid-Superior Down Gem to pay, but the Parasite’s price was so high that he barely registered it.

‘The Black Merchant’s black marketeers always offer their most precious and best item as the first transaction. I don’t know why, but it’s a long-standing tradition in the underground.’

At Dominic’s words, Kim Jin-woo sighed and looked at the items scattered on the floor.

Leather protectors made from the hide of a Kyo-ryong [a mythical dragon-like creature], a sword made from the fangs of a monster that only lives deep underground, and a pile of other miscellaneous items were laid out.

Even adding them all up, they would be worth less than one Down Gem, but they seemed more immediately useful.

As if reading his thoughts, Dominic spoke again.

‘A Parasite, as the black marketeer said, is a truly rare item these days. It will be worth the price you paid.’

Only after she explained it several times did Kim Jin-woo finally relax.

However, accepting this small and hideous worm into his body was another matter.

“Ugh…”

But it was a Parasite for which he had paid four Mid-Superior Down Gems.

He couldn’t just leave it alone when he wasn’t going to keep it as a pet. So, despite feeling disgusted, he opened the lid of the glass bottle and turned it over.

The feeling of the Parasite falling and crawling on the back of his hand was worse than he had imagined.

Even Kim Jin-woo, who had experienced a lot, couldn’t help but feel an instinctive revulsion.

He was watching the Parasite crawl on the back of his hand when he frowned at a sudden stinging pain.

‘Congratulations. Now, all you have to do is wait for the Parasite to settle in.’

The worm that had burrowed into the back of his hand disappeared without a trace. He wasn’t sure if this was something to celebrate, but he would find out in time.

Kim Jin-woo, looking at the back of his hand with a queasy expression, stopped as if he had just remembered something, and tried to check the labyrinth’s upgrade completion time.

As if the time had come, the labyrinth was shining brightly and vibrating.

“Hmm.”

It felt different from the previous upgrade.

Not only was the entire labyrinth shaking, but the core of the labyrinth in the center of the stone chamber was also emitting an unusual light.

‘The difference between 3rd grade and 4th grade is enormous.’

Even if Dominic hadn’t said it, Kim Jin-woo already felt it. He could instinctively tell that a huge change would come at the end of this vibration.

[The labyrinth upgrade is complete. The labyrinth’s grade is upgraded from 3rd grade to 4th grade. The locked facilities have been newly activated.]

[With the activation of the labyrinth, beasts and creatures from farther away clearly recognize the existence of the labyrinth.]

[The labyrinth, which has risen to the 4th grade, is an attractive place that beasts and creatures drool over. Perhaps beings who want to become the owner of the labyrinth will visit. You must further strengthen your defenses.]

[The beings of the underground who have not yet established a base want to settle in the labyrinth. It is up to the owner of the labyrinth to decide whether to accept them or not.]

Looking at the message window that finally appeared, Kim Jin-woo quickly rubbed the back of his hand. Soon, the status window filled his eyes.

[Naga’s Labyrinth] (Activated)

□Owner Kim Jin-woo (6th grade) (Ordinary Commander)

□4th Grade Labyrinth (Size 42X42)

□Dungeon Energy 35/500

□Durability 5611/5611

□Facilities

*Owner Room (3rd grade)

*Portal (Cooldown 18:04:27 0/1)

*Gate (900/900)

*Warehouse (2492/6800)

*Naga Nest (30/150)

-5th grade facilities must be upgraded to be activated.

□Troops (30/150)

*Naga Maid (Dominic/Hero) 1/10

*Naga Archer (2nd grade) 1/10

*Naga Warrior (2nd grade) 2/6

*Naga Soldier (1st grade) 2/2

*Naga Worker (1st grade) 4/1

The size of the labyrinth alone had more than doubled, and the durability, as well as the accommodation limit of the Nagas, had increased significantly.

[As the labyrinth’s grade rises to 4th grade, it is now possible to construct facilities that could not be built before.]

Since it was a message he had already seen twice, Kim Jin-woo sat on the throne without hesitation.

The throne had been transformed splendidly as the labyrinth’s grade rose, but the two beads at the end of the armrest remained the same. He wrapped his palms around the two beads.

“Construction List.”

□Breeding Ground (3rd grade) (10)

*You can raise food for the Nagas who dedicate themselves to the labyrinth. It is a suitable environment for raising prey caught outside the labyrinth.

□Tavern (4th grade) (20)

*The underground is a really boring place. Even the Nagas, who value struggle and dedication, need leisure activities.

They can relax and recharge their energy by drinking alcohol. You can also obtain information through neutral creatures who visit the labyrinth.

If you’re lucky, you might be able to get their cooperation.

□Blacksmith (4th grade) (50)

*Nagas aren’t the type to complain about weapons. But even those Nagas would be very happy to get better weapons. A skilled blacksmith can create not only weapons but also various useful items.

□Laboratory (4th grade) (50)

*Naga mages are excellent combatants, but they are more enthusiastic about exploring new mysteries than fighting. The laboratory is an essential place for them.

□Temple (4th grade) (50)

*The wise Naga priests of the underground are always praying and seeking the truth. Occasionally, their prayers reach the first serpent, and incredible miracles occur. The mere existence of a temple prevents crude curses and evil spirits from approaching the labyrinth.

Looking at the newly added facilities, Kim Jin-woo threw the last Down Gem he had been keeping in his pocket onto the altar.

“First, the Breeding Ground and the Tavern…”

Following Dominic’s advice, he busied himself remodeling the labyrinth.

***

“Hoo.”

People need sunlight. That was true even for Kim Jin-woo, who had lived in the underground longer than he had lived on the surface.

Even though it was a house that wasn’t very cozy, like a warehouse, just leaving the labyrinth made him feel relieved.

The cold in the underground labyrinth was intense. Not just the Naga’s labyrinth, but the underground below the 5th floor was too cold and damp for human habitation. And the Naga’s labyrinth was particularly cold, even in that environment.

Yet, Kim Jin-woo had to stay in the Naga’s labyrinth for a week, not just a day.

Dominic had advised him to pay more attention to the labyrinth, and the labyrinth, upgraded to the 4th grade, required a lot of work.

“Ugh. I hope I did well.”

First, he built a breeding ground to supply food for the Nagas. He also built a tavern to welcome guests who might relieve the Nagas’ stress. And he immediately replenished his summoned creatures.

He spent 19 Dungeon Energy to summon a Naga mage and a Naga priest.

After adding two more Naga warriors, he didn’t have much Dungeon Energy left.

He used all the remaining energy to summon Naga workers because the size of the labyrinth had increased, creating a worker shortage.

He spent a week mindlessly managing the labyrinth. When he finally came to his senses and went up to the surface, it felt like paradise.

“Ughhhhh.”

His body involuntarily relaxed in the warm water pouring from the showerhead. As he rinsed himself, he frowned, feeling a sudden throbbing in the back of his hand.

“Could it be?”

Remembering the Parasite he had accepted a week ago, he hurriedly left the bathroom. But before he could even get out, he had to bend over and grit his teeth.

“Ugh!”

A terrible pain, as if a flame was burning him, overwhelmed him. He rolled around and tried to put his hand in cold water, but the pain didn’t subside.

No, the pain worsened.

“Aaaagh!”

And the moment Kim Jin-woo screamed, a message window appeared.

[The Parasite, whose activity had been reduced in the cold of the labyrinth, begins to actively operate upon encountering the warmth of the surface. There are 24 hours left until it is completely settled.]

He would have to endure this pain for 24 hours. He wished he could pass out.

But the terrible burning pain prevented that.

The pain lessened and then worsened, making it difficult to endure.

Whether it hurt or not, the hardship was indescribable.

“Uwaaaaaaagh!”

He hadn’t expected this, but he was glad he had bought a house in a sparsely populated area.

If it had been an ordinary residential area, the police would have been called after receiving a noise complaint.

But that’s that, and this is this. Enduring the pain was the priority. Enduring the time that felt like an eternity, he finally saw a new message window.

[24 hours have passed. The Parasite has completely settled.]

As soon as the words finished, the pain that had been pressing down on the back of his hand disappeared.

[The Parasite has completely settled. Now, the Parasite cannot leave the host. The Parasite will desperately protect the host even to save itself.]

And when the pain finally ended, Kim Jin-woo fainted.